1. Why did Elizabeth go to the hospital?
| A．To help patients. | B．To see a doctor. | C．To get a job. |
| A．Patients ate very badly. | B．Patients cried during the day. | C．Nurses seldom bathed patients. |
| A．An editor. | B．A Police officer. | C．A lawyer. |
| A．Many readers wrote to her. |
| B．The living conditions of patients got improved. |
| C．The hospital was closed down. |
| A．Go to her bedroom. | B．Turn down the music. | C．Prepare for an anniversary. |
3 . Bristol Old Vic
When the Theatre Royal (now Bristol Old Vic) was built, electricity hadn’t been discovered. For over 250 years the people who have owned, worked inside and visited the theatre have kept records about their activity. These are kept safe at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection, and you’ll discover a range of documents which record the history of the theatre, from its foundation in 1764 up until the present day. Here are some of them.
BEGINNING
In 1764 businessmen Alexander Edgar and Thomas Symons suggested building a new theatre between Baldwin Street and the back of Coopers’ Hall in King Street. The estimated cost was f2, 000 to be split among 40 subscribers, but the building work cost more than expected. Owning shares allowed them to influence decisions about the theatre.
SILVER TICKET
Each of the original Bristol Old Vic shareholders was given a silver ticket that promised sight of any performance held at the theatre. As the holders were clever businessmen, they insisted that the silver tickets could be loaned or traded. This enabled them to make some extra money but made it extremely difficult for the theatre managers to keep track of who was allowed to see shows for free.
250TH BIRTHDAY
In May 2016, the theatre celebrated its 250th birthday! As the oldest continuously-working theatre in the English-speaking world, it deserved a proper party, so Bristol-based Limbic Cinema was hired to create a film of the theatre’s historical highlights which was projected (放映) onto the theatre itself.
1. Where can you find the three mentioned documents?| A．At Baldwin Street. |
| B．At Coopers’ Hall in King Street. |
| C．At Bristol-based Limbic Cinema. |
| D．At the University of Bristol Theatre Collection. |
| A．By creating a film about its history. |
| B．By building Bristol-based Limbic Cinema. |
| C．By releasing silver ticket in memory of the birthday. |
| D．By making a film projected in theatres across England. |
| A．To compare the theatre and others. |
| B．To change people’s view on Bristol Old Vic. |
| C．To introduce some information of Bristol Old Vic. |
| D．To recommend a movie related to the theatre. |
1. When will the race be held this year?
| A．On May 11th. | B．On May 23rd. | C．On May 24th. |
| A．At the football ground. | B．On the north side of the park. | C．At the main entrance of the park. |
| A．A water bottle. | B．A T-shirt. | C．A pair of running shoes. |
| A．Children under the age of 8. |
| B．Children between 8 and 15. |
| C．Adults who have registered in advance. |
| A．There will be more pollution. | B．There will be more bicycle tracks. | C．There will be more parking areas. |
6 . Robert Chmielewski has had quadriplegia (四肢瘫痪) since his teens. Sensors implanted (植入) in his brain read his thoughts to control two robotic arms, which helps him to perform daily tasks. Now he can use one robotic arm to control a knife and the other a fork.
Modern technology can reach inside someone’s head and pull out what he is thinking. Maybe he intends to move a robotic arm or type something on a computer screen. Such thought-controlled devices can help people who aren’t able to move or perform different tasks and promote the well-being of the disabled.
Decoding (解码) thought usually requires placing sensors directly on or in someone’s brain. Those implanted sensors can catch the electrical signals passing between the person’s brain cells, or neurons. Such signals carry messages that allow brains to think, feel and control the body.
Using brain implants, researchers have picked up electrical signals in the brain linked to certain words or letters. This has allowed brain implants to transform thoughts into text or speech on a computer. Likewise, brain implants have transformed imagined handwriting into text on a screen. Implanted sensors have even allowed scientists to turn the signals they caught that are associated with a song in someone’s head into real music.
In a recent study, scientists decoded full stories from people’s brains using MRI scans (磁共振成像扫描). This did not require any brain implants. But building the thought decoder did require many hours of brain scans for each person. What’s more, the system only worked on the person whose brain scans helped build it and only when that person was willing to have their mind read.
So devices that might let someone secretly read your mind from across the room are still a long, long way off. Still, it’s clear that mind-reading tech is getting more advanced. As it does, scientists are thinking hard about what it would mean to live in a world where not even the inside of your head is completely private.
1. What does the text begin with?| A．A suggestion. | B．A comparison. | C．An argument. | D．An example. |
| A．What principles a thought decoder should follow. |
| B．How MRI monitors the work of the implanted sensors. |
| C．What’s used to catch signals passing through the brain. |
| D．How robotic arms are designed to satisfy different needs. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Confident. | C．Doubtful. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Mind Reading is Stealing Our Privacy | B．Mind Reading is Hard, but not Impossible |
| C．Mind Reading—Good News for Musicians | D．Mind Reading—a Brain-scanning Technology |
7 . The illusion of choice is a cognitive bias that causes people to believe they have more control over their lives than they actually do. In fact, it is a false sense of control that can lead to suboptimal decision-making.
The concept is relatively new. It was first referred to by American philosopher and psychologist William James. James argues that choices can be forced or avoidable, and that every dilemma based on a complete logical disjunction, with no possibility of not choosing, is an option of this forced kind. In a paper published in 2000, psychologists Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper found that people are more likely to purchase products when they are given fewer choices.
The illusion of choice is often used in advertising and marketing to make people feel like they are in control of their purchase decisions. The same techniques may be applied in voting to make voters feel more confident in their choice of who to vote for.
In reality, the illusion of choice is a false sense of control that can lead to making decisions based on incomplete information. A famous example of this is the documentary The Great Hack. The film explores how the data company Cambridge Analytic a used the illusion of choice to control people’s opinions. In the film, it is revealed that Cambridge Analytica used data from the Internet to create targeted ads for users based on their profiles. The ads were designed to appeal to people’s fears and biases in order to affect their opinions on candidates.
The illusion of choice can be a powerful tool to control people. It is essential to be aware of your own biases and tendencies when making decisions. Take time to consider all of your options before making a decision. Be aware of the potential risks and costs associated with your choices. Seek out multiple opinions before making a final decision.
1. What can be learnt about the illusion of choice?| A．It improves decision-making. | B．It helps people to control life. |
| C．It affects consumers’ behavior. | D．It was introduced long ago. |
| A．By citing experts’ words. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By referring to a scientific paper. | D．By conducting a study. |
| A．Sharing multiple opinions. | B．Making quick decisions. |
| C．Being aware of biases. | D．Ignoring potential risks and costs. |
| A．The Origins of the Illusion of Choice | B．Psychological Process of Decision-Making |
| C．How the Illusion of Choice Is Employed | D．The Illusion of Choice: A False Sense of Control |
8 . A team of leading environmental experts have warned that the current war on plastic is detracting from the bigger threats to the environment. In an article, they say that while plastic waste is an issue, its prominence in the general public’s concern for the environment is overshadowing greater threats, for example, climate change and biodiversity loss.
The team argue that much of the bad talk about plastic waste is based on data that is not always representative of the environments that have been sampled. The dislike of plastic associated with this could encourage the use of alternative materials with potentially harmful effects.
The authors warn that plastic pollution dominates the public’s concern for the environment and has been exploited politically, after capturing the attention of the world, for example, through the images of wildlife caught in plastic was alarmist headlines. They say small political gestures such as law banning cosmetic microplastics, taxing plastic bags, and financial rewards for using reusable containers, as well as the promotion of products as “green” for containing less plastic than alternatives, make people neglect other environmental problems that are not as noticeable as plastic pollution.
The article also highlights that plastic is not the only type of polluting materials, originating from human activity that pollutes the environment. Other examples include natural textile fibres such as cotton and wool, and brake-wear particles from vehicles — all of which are present in different places. The authors note that these materials are often much more abundant than microplastics and some are associated with “plastic alternatives” that are marketed as solutions to plastic pollution. The impacts of these materials are less well-known than plastic and microplastic pollution, yet they could have huge impacts.
The article states that solutions are likely to come from a greater focus on designing materials and products that can be recycled, that have their end-of-life, and that markets and facilities exist to recycle.
1. What’s the experts’ attitude towards the current war on plastic?| A．Indifferent. | B．Favorable. | C．Critical. | D．Objective. |
| A．The negative view of plastic. |
| B．The use of alternative materials. |
| C．The potential harmful effects. |
| D．The defense for plastic. |
| A．Explain a rule. | B．Make a comparison. |
| C．Clarify a point. | D．Offer a suggestion. |
| A．A response to plastic pollution. |
| B．A schedule to fight against pollution. |
| C．An argument against climate change. |
| D．A guide to plastic management. |
9 . Here are four festival s around the world that can offer you special and unique experiences.
Carnival of Oruro, Bolivia
As one of the largest events in South America which has been held since the 18th century, it was recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Every year, dozens of groups wear colorful costumes or masks and perform folk dances that draw crowds up to 400,000 annually, celebrating pre-Columbian traditions.
Underwater Music Festival, the USA
It starts from 1985 and its founder took music festival s to a whole new level with the aim to protect the corals (珊瑚). The event houses radio playlists and ocean-themed songs streaming live from underwater speakers along with musician-divers and local people playing instruments with strange shapes.
Day of the Little Candles, Colombia
This festival can date back to 1854 and Colombia’s windows, balconies, and sidewalks would come alive on the night of every December 7. And houses and streets are decorated with candles in varying colors and paper lanterns by families. Many people also consider it the unofficial start of the Christmas season when cities and towns debut (初次登场) their Christmas lights and decorations.
World Toe Wrestling Championship, England
This competition is not a new competition, with its history going back to 1976. The sport involves two opponents who lock feet in an attempt to pin each other’s foot down in the least time possible, similar to arm wrestling. There are three rounds played on a best of 2 out of 3 bases. Rounds kick-start with the right foot, then left and followed by right again.
1. What do we know about Carnival of Oruro?| A．It features colorful costumes and folk dances. |
| B．It is a time for families to reunite. |
| C．It is no use for the local economy. |
| D．It only has one single presentation. |
| A．Body strength. | B．Colorful candles. |
| C．Underwater creatures. | D．Christmas goods. |
| A．Carnival of Oruro. | B．Day of the Little Candles. |
| C．Underwater Music Festival. | D．World Toe Wrestling Championship. |
David and George were best friends at school. They sat together in the same school classroom, shared sandwiches during lunch breaks, and had countless adventures together,
As George’s birthday approached, David noticed something that concerned him. It was George’s shoes, the soles (鞋底) of which were nearly worn through. They were no longer as comfortable as they should be, and David could tell that George needed a new pair of shoes and he decided to do something special for his friend on his birthday.
David’s thoughtful plan started with a conversation with his mum. He explained how much he cared for his friend George and how he wanted to gift him a pair of shoes for his birthday.
His mum, a kind and wise woman, agreed that it was a wonderful idea. She also wanted to teach David an important lesson about earning and giving. So, they discussed a plan together. “David,” his mum said, “I think it’s a lovely idea to buy shoes for George. But how about this? I can give you some money for doing extra housework around the house. You can earn the money you need to buy the shoes. What do you think? “David’s eyes lit up, and he smiled widely. “That’s a great idea, Mum! I want to do it. ”
David became a whirlwind (旋风) of activity around the house. He swept the floor, watered the plants, washed the clothes, and even helped his mum with the dishes. His determination to earn enough money for George’s gift shone through his every action.
As days turned into weeks, David saved penny by penny. His mum was impressed by his hard work. She knew that her son’s surprise for George would not only make his friend happy but would also teach David the joy of giving.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Finally, George’s birthday came and David invited George to his home celebration.
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George was so moved by the gift he received.
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